Safety water light



Jan. ll, 1938. wQ-BJRINER SAFETY WATER LIGHT 3; .Sheets-Sheet l FiledJune 2, 1936 Waff/9627 977299K Jan. 1l, 1938. w. B. RINER SAFETY WATERLIGHT Filed June 2, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 COMUNE/TAL CODE aal,

ikkmwp Jan. 11, 1938. w. B. RlNr-:R 2,104,762

SAFETY WATER LIGHT Filed June 2, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f:- wy/ 1Patented Jan. 1l, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety water light designed primarily foruse in the saving of lives, but it is to be understood that it is to beused for any purpose or in any connection for which it may be foundapplicable.

A safety water light, in accordance with this invention may be attachedto a ring buoy or a life raft and may form a part of the life savingequipment of marine and submarine vessels, as Well as airplanes whichtravel over any considerable expanse of water.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a light of the class referred to having a lowcenter of gravity for the purpose of riding well, both in a current andin waves.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a light of the class referred to built to floatitself and not to buoy up any other object.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a light of the class referred to having means forattaching thereto a ring buoy or life raft and of a construction capableof being thrown or dropped into the water with the ring buoy or liferaft attached.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a safety water light including an electric light,and a rvsource of current for the latter and means for opening andclosing the lighting circuit for the lamp to provide for signalling whenthe light is in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a safety water light including an electric lampin circuit with an electric source and latchable means for maintainingthe lighting circuit for the lamp open when the light is not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a safety water light including an electric lamp,circuit connections leading from the lampto an electrical source, abuoyant supporting means for the lamp, circuit connections and source,said means so constructed to provide for convenient access to said lamp,circuit connections and said source.

A further objectA of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a safety Water light including a lens'deslgned toconcentrate a beam of light from a small electric lamp which is used toconserve electrical energyand last over a considerable period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a safety water light including a small electricallamp, a source of electrical current for the lamp and an off and onswitch for opening and closing the lamp to said source.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a safety water light including an electricallamp, a source of electrical current for the lamp, an oif and on switch,means for detachably supporting the light 10 when it is not in use andwith said means including parts operating on the olf and on switch formaintaining the lighting circuit for the lamp open While the light isdetachably connected to said means.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a safety water light which is simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, of a weight topermit its being conveniently handled when desired, readily repairedwhen occasion requires, thoroughly efficient in its use andcomparatively 4inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofsuch parts and such combination of parts as will be more specicallydescribed and as are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein areshown embodiments of the invention, but it isto be understood thatchanges, variations and modications may be resorted to which fall withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the safety water light taken online Figure 2 35 with the latching means for the oil and on switch innon-latching position,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the safety water light with the latchingmeans for the off and on switch in latching position,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of safety water lightdetachably connected to a support therefor and with the lighting circuitmaintained open by elements of the support,

Figure is a fragmentary disassembled view illustratingV the upper end ofthe' light support in side elevation and the upper portion of the modiedform of light in vertical section,

Figure 61s a side elevation of the modied form 50 of light and supporttherefor, with the light in .position to be removedfrom the support andthe lighting circuit closed, Figure '1 is a front elevation of themodified form of light detachably connected to a support secured to adeck railing and having coupled thereto a ring buoy,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 7 but withthe light and support inverted, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the modified form of light riding inthe water and having coupled thereto a ringA buoy.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the safety water light includes ahousing I0 formed of an annular body part II having an inwardlyextending annular flange I2 at its lower end, a bottom part I3 ofsegmental cross section having a vertically disposed annular flange I4at its upper end and provided therein with a weighting means I5, anannulus I6 anchored to the upper end portion of the inner face of andush with the top edge of body part II and a head part I1. The latterincludes an upstanding hollow frustotapered portion I8 open at itsbottom, seated on the annulus I6 and merging at its upper end into adisc-like closure I9 inwardly adjacent the outer edge of the latterwhereby there is provided a fiat annular flange 20 extending outwardlyat right angles relative to the upper end of portion I8. The upper faceof closure I9 is formed with a verticallyl disposed annular flange 2larranged in inwardly adjacent relation with respect to the upper end ofportion I8. The closure I9 is also formed axially thereof with anopening 22, as well as another opening 23 between flange 2l and opening22. The closure I9 provides a closed upper end for the housing III andalso the bottom of an electric lamp casing to be referred to. That partof closure I9 which provides the flange 20 is formed, in proximity tothe outer edge of the latter, with a series of spaced lthreaded openings24 for a purpose to be referred to. That part of the tapered portion I8,which seats on the annulus I6, is indicated at 25 and formed with spacedopenings 26. The annulus I6 has spaced threaded openings 21. Interposedbetween the part 25 and annulus 26 is a sealing gasket 28 havingopenings 29 which register with the openings 26, 21. Extending. throughthe registering openings 26, 21, 29 and threadedly engaging with thewalls of the openings 21 are holdfast devices 30 for anchoring head partI1 and body part II together. The flange I4 on the bottom part I3encompasses the lower portion of and is suitably anchored to the outerperiphery of the body part I I. The housing III is buoyant and theweighting means I5 provides for a low center of gravity for the lightwhereby housing I0 will ride well both in a current and in waves.

The light includes an electric lamp casing generally indicated at 3I andsuch casing has as parts thereof the closure I9 and the flanges 20, 2i,as well as a vertically disposed Fresnel lens 32, that is, a tubularlens of the biprlsrnatic type. The lens 32 has a portion intermediateits ends so formed, as indicated at 33 to throw a narrow andconcentrated beam of light on a plane parallel with the water. The lens32 constitutes the body of the lamp casing 3I. The latter also includesa top 34 formed of a part 35 of arcuate contour in cross section, adepending vertically disposed annular flange 36 on the lower face ofpart 35, and an outwardly directed fiat annular flange 31 integral withthe part 35 and disposed at right angles with *relation to and arrangedoutwardly of the flange 36. 'I'hedlanges 2|, 36 are aligned. The flanges20, 31 are aligned. The iiange 31 adjacent its outer edge is formed withspaced openings 38. The part has an axial opening 39. The part 35 hasits upper face formed with an integral vertically disposed externallythreaded sleeve 40 which surrounds and is spaced from opening 39. Thelens 32 has arranged against its top and bottom edges the sealinggaskets 4I, 42 respectively. The former bears'against the lower face offlange 31 and surrounds flange 31. The gasket 42 seats on the upper faceof closure I9 and surrounds flange 2|. The inner periphery of lens 32bears against the outer faces of the flanges 2 I, 36. The closure I9,lens 32 and top 34 are clamped togethered by a series of tie bolts 43extending through openings 38 and having threaded engagement with theopenings 24. The bolts 43 extend above the flange 31 and depend belowthe flange 20. Cap nuts 44 threadedly engage with the upper ends of thebolts 43. The lower ends of the bolts may be provided with, if desired,securing nuts.`

Mounted in the casing 3l is a vertically disposed electric lamp 45formed with a depending reduced externally threaded tubular shank 46which extends through the opening 22'. The shank 46 forms the lamp 45with a shoulder 41 which seats against the upper face of closure I9.Mounted on the shank 46 is a nut 48 which coacts with the shoulder 41and closure I 9 for detachably clamping the lamp in an upstandingposition to the' closure I9 and with the upper portion of the bulb ofthe lamp aligning with the focal point of the lens.

The light includes an o and on switching structure 48a for the lamp,that is to say, a switch for selectively opening and closing thelighting circuit for the lamp. The structure 48a includes a verticallydisposed sleeve 49 formed of an upper and a lower stretch 50, 5Irespectively. The stretch 50 has its outer and inner diameters less thanthe inner and outer 4diameters of the stretch 5I. The junction of thestretches 50, 5I provides sleeve 49 with an internal shoulder 52constituting an abutment. The stretch 50 is peripherally threaded. Thestretch 5I at its lower end is provided with an inwardly extendingflange 53 constituting an abutment aligning with the abutment providedby the shoulder 52. The stretch 5I Ais of greater length than stretch 50and has secured to its lower edge a contact 54 provided with a contactpost or lug 55. The lower end of stretch 5I is anchored in the top wallof a horizontally disposed closed rectangular receptacle 56 having oneof its ends, as indicated at 51, formed with a pair of superposedopenings 58, 59. The junction of the stretches 50, 5I form the sleeve 49with an external shoulder 60 upon which is seated a clamping nut 6Ihaving threaded engagement with the stretch 50. The latter extendsupwardly through 39 and has threadedly engaged therewith a nut 62. Thenuts 6I, 62/coact with the part 35 of top 34 and Stretch 50 forsuspending the switching structure 48a within the lamp casing 3I abovethe lamp 45. Operating in the sleeve 49 is a depressible springcontrolled circuit opening and closing member 63 normally functioning toclose the lighting circuit for lamp 45. The member 63 is in the form ofa plunger extending througlcrY and of greater length than the sleeve 49.The mexnber 63 is provided at its upper end with a head 64 of a diameterto prevent the latter from entering stretch 50. Carried by the lower endof member 63 is a contact 65 provided with a contact post or lug 66.Arranged within the stretch 5I, surrounding the member 63 and interposedbetween an abutment 61 on the Alatter and the flange 53, is thecontrolling spring 68 for member 63. The spring 68 normally tends tohold the contact posts 54, 66 en- 'gaged to close the lighting circuitfor the lamp 45. In Figure 3 the member 63 is shown in a depressedposition whereby the lighting circuit is open.

Mounted upon and secured to the flange |2, as at 68, is an electricalstorage battery with which is attached the circuit connections for thelamp 45. The connections include a pair of conductors 1|, 12 leadingfrom the battery 10 to a socket 13, a pair of conductors 14, leadingfrom aV plug 16 and a conductor 11. The plug 16 is adapted to engage inthe socket 13 for electrically connecting the conductors 1|, 12 to thecond-uctors 14, 15 respectively. The conductor 14 extends through theopening 51 inreceptacle or` box 56 and is connected to contact 54 bybinding post 55. The conductor 15 is electrically connected to lamp 15.vThe conductor 11 leads from lamp 45, extends through opening 23 inclosure I8, extends into receptacle or box 56 through opening 58 and isconnected to contact 65 by the binding' post 66.

Mounted on the top edge of sleeve 40 is a depressing member 18 for themember 63. Preferably, member 18 will be formed of raw hide and is ofdisc-like form. The member 18 is secured upon the top edge of the sleeve40 by an internally threaded collar 18 formed at its top with aninwardly extending annular flange 80 bearing against the marginalportion of the upper face of member 18.

Attached to the lamp casing 3l .by a chain 8| is combined latchingdevice 82 for releasably maintaining the member 63 in a depressedposition to open the lighting circuit. The device 82 consists of acruciform-shaped member 83 having each of its arms or legs formed with adepending inwardly flanged spring clip 84 for engagement against thebottom edge of collar 1,8. The device 82 includes a retainer 85 which issecured axially of and depends from member 83 to engage and depressmemberl 18 axially, which in turn Will depress the circuit opening andclosing member 63. The member 83 carries an apertured lug 86 to whichone end link of a. chain 8| is attached. The other end link of chain 8|is connected to one of vthe tie bolts 43 by a cap nut 44 on the upperendof such bolt. In Figure 3 of the drawings, the device 82 is shown inlatching position.

,In Figure 1 of the drawings, the device 82' is shown in non-latchingposition. Y

Secured to the body part |I of housing l0 exteriorlythereof isa bracket81 which pivotally and slidably carries a ring 88 to which a. flexiblecoupling member 88 for a ring buoy 80 may be secured. l

The housing of any one of the forms shown has the periphery thereofprovided with a plate 8| provided with conventional means as at 8|*il toindicate a particular code, by way of example, the Continental Codewhich the imperiled individual should use when signalling through themedium of the lamp and the circuit opening and closing means for thelamp.

The modified construction of light shown at 82 in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8and 9 is generally indicated at 82 and is similar in construction tothat shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 with this exception that the latchingdevice 82 does not form a part thereof.

When the modified form of light, as indicated at 82 is not in use, itmay be detachably connected to a support 83 in the position shown inFigures 4, 6 and '1 or in an inverted position as shown in Figure 8. Thesupport 83 preferably is anchored stationary, and is shown by way ofexample,

' anchored to a deck railing 84 Figure 7.

The support 83 includes a vertically disposed base 85 carrying a pair ofaligned outwardly extending superposed upper and lower arms 86, 81. Thearm 86 has secured to its outer end a hollow head 88 which is open atits bottom. The head 88 carries a vertically disposed, adjustablecombined depressing and clamping element 89 axially thereof. The outerend of arm 81 carries an annulus |00 through which extends a springcontrolled supporting post |0| having fixed to its upper end a hollowinverted conoidal-shaped seat forming member |62 to receive the bottomof housing I0. The lower end of post |0| is enlarged as at |03 toprevent the post |0I, on its upward movement from separating from theannulus. The controlling spring for post 0I is indicated at |03. Thespring surrounds post |01 and is interposed between the member |02 andannulus |00. The normal purpose of spring |03 is to maintain the post|0| and member |02 in the position shown in Figure 4 relative tothelight 82 whereby the spring |03 will force light 82 upwardly to haveelement 88 depress member 18, which in turn will act on and depressmember 63 opening and maintaining the lamp circuit open until the light82 is lowered against the Yaction of spring |03, as shown in Figure 6and then removed from support 83. '1,

With reference to Figure 8, the purpose of the inverted position of thelight is that in this arrangement the spring is just sufficiently strongto hold the light and the latter is released with a slight pull. raftwould float oif,'pulling the light from this mooring without humanattention.

Since the holder structure will preferably be secured to the outside ofa boat rail and the light secured to a ring buoy, even when one isunfamiliar with the use Aof the light or the connection of the light tothe ring buoy, the force of the thrown or dropped buoy will besufficient to remove the light from the holder structure.

1. A safety water light comprising a closed buoyant'housing having aweighting means therein at the bottom thereof, a source of electricalenergy mounted in the housing above the said means, a closed lamp casingpositioned upon and anchored to the upper end of the housing, the top ofsaid casing being provided thereon with an exteriorly threaded sleeve, alamp element arranged within said casing and supported from the top ofthe housing, a lighting circuit forming means between said lamp and saidsource, a circuit controlling structure suspended in said casing fromthe top of the latter, interposed in said circuit fornormallymaintaining the latter closed and including a spring controlled circuitopening and closing member extending through the top of the casing intosaid sleeve, depressible means secured to said sleeve and operated fromthe exterior of the casing for shifting said member to open saidcircuit, and means for latching said depressible means in depressedposition.

2. A safety water light comprising a closed buoyant housing having aweighting means therein at the bottom thereof, a source of electricalenergy mounted in the housing above the said means, a closed lamp casingpositioned upon and anchored to the upper end of the housing, the

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Thus if the shipshould sink the top of said casing being providedthereon with an exteriorly threaded sleeve, a lamp element arrangedWithin said casing and supported from the top of the housing, a lightingcircuit forming means between said lamp and said source, a circuitcontrolling structure suspended in said casing from the top of thelatter, interposed in said circuit for normally maintaining the latterclosed and including a spring controlled circuit opening and closingmember extending through the top of the casing into said sleeve,depressible means secured to said sleeve and operated from the exteriorof the casing for shifting said member to open said circuit, and meansfor latching said depressible means in depressed position, the saidlatching means being carried by said casing.

3. A safety Water light comprising a closed buoyant weighted housing, asource of electrical energy within the housing, electrical illuminablemeans above and supported from the housing, means supported from the topof the housing encompassing and coacting with said illuminable means,when the latter is active, to provide a concentric beam of light on aplane parallel with the water, an illuminating circuit leading from saidsource to said illuminable means, and means suspended from and withinsaid encompassing means and interposed in said circuit for normallymaintaining the circuit closed, and a yshiftable part extended into andoperated from the exterior of said encompassing means for opening saidcircuit.

4. A safety water light comprising a closed buoyant weighted housing, asource of electrical energy Within the housing, electrical illuminablemeans above and supported from the housing, means supported from the topof the housing encompassing and coacting with said illuminable means,when the latter is active, to provide a concentric beam of light on aplane parallel with the water, an illuminating circuit leading from saidsource to said illuminable means, means suspended from and within saidencompassing means and interposed in said circuit for normallymaintaining the circuit closed, and a shiftable part extended into andoperated from the exterior of said encompassing means for opening saidcircuit, and means for releasably holding said part in circuit openingposition.

WILLIAM B. RINER.

